Slide-top dispensing container



Jan. 18, 1966 E. D. GILLAM 3,229,888

SLIDE-TOP DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 14, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. EDWARD 0. GILL/1M gwmw ATTORNEY Jan. 18, 1966 E. D. GILLAM 3,229,888

SLIDE-TOP DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 14, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F7616 83 F/G] a0 as 52 a0 f)? f, r ,L 2 l I I, I I, I l r q I I, I I I 59 66 23*, 45

INVENTOR.

EDWARD D. GILLAM BY W ATTORNEY Jan. 18, 1966 E. D. GILLAM 3,229,888

SLIDE-TOP DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Oct. 14, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 F/GI l3 7/ I F/G. /4

a5 44 I 28 a0 a3 49 45 8/ INVENTOR. 764 [ow/m0 o. GILL/1M ATTORNEY Jan. 18, 1966 E. D. GlLLAM 3,229,888

SLIDE-TOP DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed 001;. 14, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet L F/G. l5

F/G. l6

INVENTOR. EDWARD 0. GILL/1M BY W1 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,229,888 SLIDE-TOP DISPENSING CONTAINER Edward D. Gillam, Penn Valley, Pa., assignor to Comly Gillam Carton Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 14, 196$,Ser. No. 315,764 11 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This invention relates to containers, to containers having a slidable panel at the top of the container for access to the contents, and more particularly easy to set up without gluing containers having a controlled reciprocable slidable panel.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide containers having a slidable panel at the top for access to the contents, but these had various major disadvantages. Some of the objectionable characteristics of the prior containers of this type revolved around the necessity for separate top and bottom gluing after the container was set up, others include the occurrence of an open corner at the free end of the slidable panel so that complete closure after set up was not efiected, the slidable panel as provided had the disadvantage of resting directly on the contents and the second stage or final gluing of the top was therefore diflicult because in manycases softness of contents would not permit proper support and pressure for securely gluing the top panel, the friction area of the slidable panel for engagement by the thumb or fingers for actuation of the slidable panel was inadequate, and the container could not be readily assembled by hand without secondary gluing.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a reusable container having a controlled reciproca'ble slidable end panel for access to the contents which container can be glued in a flat condition for shipment on readily available high speed rotary straight line gluers preparatory to either automatic or hand set up and which will overcome the objectionable features heretofore encountered with prior containers of this type.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reusable container having a controlled reciprocable slidable top end panel for access to the contents having improved qualities related to its use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reusable container having a controlled slidable top end panel for access to the contents, having all closed corners, an improved slide panel, an improved slide guide for the slide panel, an improved friction grip for operating the slide panel, a stop for the slide panel and a longer mounting leg for the slide panel.

It is a further object ofthe present invention to provide a reusable container having a controlled slidable top end panel for access to the contents in which the slide is retained out of contact with the goods.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reusable container having a controlled slidable top panel for access to the contents in which the slide is frictionally retarded from undesired movement.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reusable container having a controlled slidable top end panel which is free from gluing at the top end at which the slidable panel is located.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reusable container having a controlled slidable top end panel for access to the contents in which the slidable panel has a built in limit stop.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container of the type aforesaid which can be preglued and shipped in flat condition to the user and set up and which does not need subsequent gluing after filling.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reusable container of the type aforesaid which can be set up from a flat glued position as delivered, on machines which are standard equipment in many plants where packaging operations are effected, or can even be set up by hand, if desired, without the necessity for gluing after set up.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reusable container of the type aforesaid in which an improved edge closure is provided at the dispensing opening which is efiective after the package has initially been opened.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reusable container having a controlled slidable top end panel with elevated wall sections guiding the slide.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a reusable container of the type aforesaid having improved capabilities for additional access to the contents, if desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a container of the type aforesaid which is suited to containers of different front to back dimensions and still retain its advantageous characteristics.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will 'be more readily understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for making a container in accordance with the invention as seen from the inside;

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of a preferred form of container, assembled from the blank of FIG. 1, as seen from one side and with the container set up and with the slide in closed condition;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the container of FIG. 2 as seen from the same side in a set up condition with the slide in open condition;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the con tainer of FIG. 2 as seen from the other side, and in a set up condition and with the slide in closed condition;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, taken approximately on the line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a blank for making another preferred form of container in accordance with the invention for smaller front to back dimensions;

FIG. 9 is a .vieW in perspective of another preferred form of set up container in accordance with the invention, assembled from the blank of FIG. 8, and as seen from one side with the slide in closed condition;

FIG. 10 is a view in perspective as seen from the same side as FIG. 9 with the container set up and with the slide in open condition;

FIG. 11 is a view in perspective of the container of FIG. 9 as seen from the other side, and with the slide in closed condition;

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 12-12 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 1313 of FIG. 9; a

FIG. 14 is a sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately on the line 1414 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the container of FIGS. 2 to 7, inclusive, in flat condition from the gluer and ready for shipping and subsequent set up and filling; and

FIG. 16 is a view of the container shown in FIG. as seen from the other side.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 7 of the drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated, a blank is shown at B in FIG. 1 for making a preferred form of container as further illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 7, inclusive. The blank B is preferably made of a single sheet of material, such as paperboard, cardboard, or similar tough yet flexible material, preferably finished on at least one face thereof for printing and for decoration, as desired. As shown in FIG. 1 the finished face or face which is ultimately outwardly disposed is positioned downwardly.

The blank B is provided with predetermined creases, slits, cutouts, and shapes thereon, to provide the desired constituent portions as hereinafter explained.

The constituent portions of the blank B preferably include an elongated rectangular side wall glue panel 15 which is connected to a rectangular rear wall panel 16 by a longitudinal crease line 17 which provides an edge of the set up box. The side wall glue panel 15 has a terminal edge 18, and a transverse marginal edge 19 which is set back slightly from a transverse marginal edge 20 of the back Wall panel 16. The side wall glue panel 15 has an opposite transverse marginal edge 21 which is set back slightly from a transverse crease line 22 which forms a boundary of the panel 16. The marginal edge 21 has a cutout 23 for limiting the extent of gluing therealong, as hereinafter explained.

The rear wall panel 16 has joined thereto, along the transverse crease line 22, an outer top wall panel 25, having a cut away edge 26, for facilitating access to the slidable panel of the box, as hereinafter explained.

The rear wall panel 16 is bounded by a longitudinal crease line 27 parallel to the crease line 17 which provides an edge of the set up box.

The top wall panel has a marginal edge 34, parallel tothe crease line 22, and a marginal edge 28 which is set back from and is preferably substantially parallel to the crease line 27. The rear Wall panel 16 has an edge 30 formed as an extension of the crease line 22.

The top wall panel 25 has a marginal locking tuck flap 32, connected thereto along a transverse crease line 33, formed as an extension of the outer marginal edge 34 of the panel 25. At the junction of the crease line 33 and edge 34 a locking cutout 35 is provided.

The rear wall panel 16 has a positioning tongue 36 cut therein in predetermined spaced relation to the crease line 22.

The rear wall panel 16 has a rectangular side wall panel 38 joined thereto along the crease line 27.

The side wall panel 38 has joined thereto along a transverse crease line 39, which is aligned with the marginal edge 20, a bottom wall flap 40. The flap 40 has a terminal edge 41, an inset edge 42 extending from the junction of the crease line 39 and the edge 20, and an edge 43. i

The side wall panel 38 has, along the opposite margin, an aperture cover flap 44 which is connected thereto along a transverse crease line 45. The crease line 45 is preferably set in with respect to the crease line 22.' If desired a weakened curved line 46 may be provided to define a tab capable of separation manually with the cover flap 44, as desired, to permit greater access to the interior.

The side wall panel 38 has connected thereto along a longitudinal crease line 47 which is parallel to the crease line 27, a front wall panel 48 of rectangular shape which has an outer bottom wall panel 49 connected thereto along a transverse crease line 50 aligned with the crease line 39.

The bottom wall panel49 has an edge 51 common in part with the edge 43, and has a tuck flap 52 connected thereto along a crease line 53 which is parallel to the crease line 50, and has locking slits 54 extending from each end for retaining the bottom wall panel 49 in position with the tuck flap 52 inserted at'the edge 20 along the inside of the rear wall panel 16. The bottom wall panel 49 also has an edge 55.

The front wall panel 48 has a short top edge 56 and has connected thereto along an inset interrupted crease line 57 parallel to the crease line 50, an inner top wall panel 58. The wall panel 58 has an edge 59 inset from an extension of the crease line 47, and has an edge 60 aligned with a crease line 61 which is parallel to the.

crease line 47, forms a boundary of the panel 58 and provides an edge of the set up box.

The top .Wall panel 58 has connected thereto along a.

transverse crease line 62, a tuck flap 63.

Intermediate the ends of an interrupted crease line 57,

an offset therefrom, a cut line 64 is provided for the purpose of making available a slot for the insertion of the locking tuck flap 32. The top wall panel 58 at this location has a tongue 66 connected along a creaseline 67,to facilitate the insertion and retention of the locking tuck flap 32.

The rear wall panel 48 has connected thereto along the longitudinal crease line 61, a side wall panel 70 of rectangular shape and width similar to side wall panel 38.

The side wall panel 70 has a bottom wall flap 71 connect'ed thereto at the lower end thereof by a transverse crease line 72 which is formed as an extension of the crease lines 39 and 5t) and the flap 71 is separated from the edge 55 of the bottom wall panel 49 by a cut line 73.

The side wall panel 70 below the upper end thereof has a mounting strip 75 pivotally connected at oneend by a crease line 76 and separated from the side wall panel 70 by parallel cut lines 77 and cut lines 78 which diverge therefrom to the crease line 57 and to a side marginal edge.

79 of the side wall panel 70, which is parallel to the crease line 61.

p The strip 75 is thus of substantially Y-shape and has a slide panel 80 connected thereto along a transverse crease line 81 which is aligned with the crease line 57. The

crease line 81 is preferably interrupted inter-mediate its 1 ends by a cut line 82 which provides a tongue 83 to. facilitate manipulation of the slide panel 80. The slide panel 80 has a side margin 84 set in from the marginal edge 79, an end margin 85, and a side margin 86 with a cutout 87, and a side extension 88. The cutout 87 permits insertion of the locking tuck flap 32 into the slot formed by the cut line 64. The portion of the side margin 86 between the cutout 87 and the extension 88' permits limited movement of the slide panel 80 away from the side panel 38 as hereinafter explained. v

Also shown on FIG. 1 for purposes of explanation is a glue strip 89 as applied in a conventional gluing machine and a strip 90 at which adherence occurs when the panel 15 with the glue strip 89 is brought into engagement interiorly of the side wall panel 70.

The blank B is prefolded and glued flat on a standard high speed straight line folding and gluing machine of well known type, with a rotary glue wheel, being advanced for this purpose in the direction indicated by the arrow on FIGS. 1 and 8. Glue is applied at the strip 89 by an 7 shipped to the user in this flat condition'and requires no further gluing.

If desired by the user the container can be set up by hand or can be set up on equipment now available and utilized for setting up boxes, such as a Tuck-o-mat machine, without further gluing.

The fiat glued container is opened up with the rear wall panel 16 and front wall panel 48 in spaced parallel relation with the end panels 38 and 70 is spaced parallel relation.

The bottom wall flaps 40 and 71 are bent along their crease lines 39 and 72, the bottom wall panel 49 swung about its crease line 50 and the tuck flap 52 inserted at the edge 20 along the inner face of the back wall panel 16 and moved so that the slits 54 in the bottom wall panel 49 engage with and lock to the bottom wall flaps 40 and 71.

The contents can then be inserted after which the top end of the container is closed. To effect this closing, the top wall panel 58 is swung about the crease line 57 and the tuck flap 63 swung about the crease line 62 and inserted along the interior of the back wall panel 16 to bring the flap 63 into a stop position held by the tongue 36.

The aperture cover flap 44 is bent downwardly and inwardly along the crease line 45 to the same plane as that of the top wall panel 58.

The slide panel 80 is swung about the crease line 81 and positioned on the previously placed inner top wall panel 58 and preferably overlying the aperture cover flap 44. The top wall panel is then swung about the crease line 22 and the locking flap 32 bent along the crease line 33 is inserted along the cutout 87 and into the slit which is at the cut line 64. The locking cutout 35 engages the top Wall panel 58 and locks the outer top wall panel 25 in place. 7 It will be noted that slide panel 80, with its hingedly connected mounting strip 75 is mounted for sliding movement in the channel between the inner and outer top wall panels 58 and 25. The controlled movement of the slide panel 80 provided by the locking flap 32 and its engagement by the extension 88 improves the action of the slide panel 80. The manner of mounting the slide panel 80 in its relation to the inner and outer top wall panels 58 and 25 obviates the necessity for gluing and either poor adhesion or crushing of the contents if sufiicient pressure is applied to insure adhesion.

The slide panel 80 is also guided between the back and front panels 16 and 48 so that sidewise twisting cannot occur.

Easy manipulation of the slide panel 80 to or from closed position is easily efiected by engagement of the thumb or finger with the operating tongue 83, even with the container held in one hand.

The aperture cover flap 44 provides a closure at this location and springs upwardly by reason of the inherent resiliency of its connection at the crease line 45 when the slide panel 80 is Withdrawnfrom engagement thereabove. This facilitates access to the contents. If desired the aperture cover flap 44 can be bent downwardly to its initial position as the slide panel 80 is replaced at its original closing position.

If greater access to the interior is desired the weakened line 46 permits tearing out the upper portion of the side wall panel 38 along with the aperture cover flap 44.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 8 which shows a blank B1, and to FIGS. 9 to 14 of the drawings the structure there shown is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 7.

The principal dilference is in theprovision of narrower side wall panels 15a, 38a and 70a. Also, a different character of tear out is provided on the side wall panel 38a consisting of weakened lines 27a and 47a extending throughout part of the length of the crease lines 27 and 47 to a weakened transverse tear line 46a which may be used as a location for severing the aperture cover flap 44 and side wall 38a down to the line 46a, and which also 6 may be utilized as a hinge location with the end aperture cover flap 44 tucked in as heretofore explained.

In order to accommodate the slide panel mounting to the narrower side wall panels 15a, 38a and a, the side wall panel 70a has a hinge strip a connected along a transverse crease line 76a with a single cut line 77a and a single oblique out line 78a. The outer margin 79a of the panel 70a provides the other boundary of the hinge strip 75a.

It will thus be seen that a container is provided which effectively accomplishes the objects of the invention.

I claim:

1. A container made of a single piece of sheet material and having a first opposite pair of side wall panels and connected therebetween a second opposite pair of side wall panels, said panels 'at one of the ends thereof having members carried thereby foldable and securable to close the bottom of said container, and a slidable closure means for the top of the container, said last means including an inner top wall panel carried by one of said side wall panels of the first pair, an outer top wall panel carried by an opposite one of said side wall panels of the first pair, said top wall panels being spaced from one of said side wall panels of said second pair to provide an access opening, and a slide panel hingedly carried by other of said side wall panels of said second pair, said other of said side wall panels of said second pair having an interior wall panel secured to said other side wall panel and limiting movement in one direction of said slide panel, said slide panel being slidably disposed between said inner and outer top wall panels and movable for exposing said access opening.

2. A container as defined in clairn 1 in which said access opening has a hingedly mounted flap extending thereover in covering relation thereto.

3. A container as defined in claim 2 in which said flap has a section extending therefrom bounded by a weakened line for removal for enlarging the access opening.

4. A container as defined in claim 1 in which said slide panel and one of said top wall panels have interengaging portions controlling the sliding movement of said slide panel in one direction.

5. A container as defined in claim 1 in which one of said pair of opposite side walls have portions disposed along the edges of said slide panel guiding said slide panel in its horizontal movement.

6. A container made of a single piece of sheet material and having a first opposite pair of side wall panels and connected therebetween a second opposite pair of wall panels, said panels at one of the ends thereof having members carried thereby foldable and securable to close the bottom of said container, and a slidable closure means for the top of the container, said last means including an inner top wall panel carried by one of said side Wall panels of the first pair, an outer top wall panel carried by an opposite one of said side wall panels of the first pair, said top wall panels being spaced from one of said side Wall panels of said second pair to provide an access opening, and a slide panel hingedly carried by the other of said side wall panels of said second pair, said slide panel being slidably disposed between said inner and outer top wall panels and movable for exposing said access opening, said access opening having a flap extending thereover in covering relation thereto, said flap being hingedly mounted on said one of said side wall panels of said second pair.

7. A container as defined in claim 6 in which said flap is held in flat closed position by engagement of the slide panel thereover.

8. A container made of a single piece of sheet material and having a first opposite pair of side wall panels and connected therebetween a second opposite pair of side wall panels, said panels at one of the ends thereof having members carried thereby foldable and securable to close the bottom of said container, and a slidable closure means for the top of the container, said last means including an inner top wall panel carried by one of said side wall panels of the first pair, an outer top wall panel carried by an opposite one of said side wall panels of the first pair, said top wall panels being spaced from one of said side wall panels of said second pair to provide an access opening, and a slide panel hingedly carried by the other of said side wall panels of said second pair, said slide panel being slidably disposed between said inner and outer top wall panels and movable for exposing said access opening, one of said side walls having a portion for engagement by a portion extending from one of said top wall panels for positioning said top wall panel.

9. A container made of a single piece of sheet material and having a first opposite pair of side wall panels and connected therebetween a second opposite pair of side wall panels, said panels at one of the ends thereof having members carried thereby foldable and securable to close the bottom of said container, and a slidable closure means for the top of the container, said last means including an inner top wall panel carried by one of said side wall panels of the first pair, an outer top wall panel carried by an opposite one of said side wall panels of the first pair, said top wall panels being spaced from one of said side wall panels of said second pair to provide an access opening, and a slide panel hingedly carried by the other of said side wall panels of said second pair, said slide panel being slidably disposed between said inner and outer top wall panels and movable for exposing said access opening, one of said top wall panels having a flap portion engaging the other of said top wall panels and retaining said top wall panels in. assembled relation.

10. A container made of a single piece of sheet material and having a first opposite pair of side wall panels and connected therebetween a second opposite pair of side wall panels, said panels at one of the ends thereof having members carried thereby foldable and securable to close the bottom of said container, and a slidable closure means for the top of the container, said last means including an inner top wall panel carried by one of said side wall panels of the first pair, an outer top Wall panel carried by an opposite one of said side wall panels of the first pair, said top wall panels being spaced from one of said side Wall panels of said second pair to provide an access opening, and a slide panel hingedly'carried by the other of said side wall panels of said second pair, said slide panel being slidably disposed between said inner and outer top wall panels and movable for exposing said access opening, said outer top wall panel having a tongue extending downwardly through said inner top wall panel in holding engagement therewith.

11. A container made of a single piece of sheet material and having a first opposite pair of side Wall panels and connected therebetween a second opposite pair of side wall panels, said panels at one of the ends thereof having members carried thereby foldable and securable to close the bottom of said container, and a slidable closure means for the top of the container, said last means including an inner top wall panel carried by one of said side wall panels of the first pair, an outer top ,wall panel carried by an opposite one of said side wall panels of the first pair, said top wall panels being spaced from one of said side wall panels of said second pair to provide an access opening, and a slide panel hingedly carried by the other of said side wall panels of said second pair, said slide panel being slidably disposed between said inner and outer top wall panels and movable for exposing said access opening, one of said top wall panels having a downwardly extending interiorly disposed tongue, and said slide panel having a side marginal portion engageable with said tongue for limiting the sliding movement of said slide panel.

References Cited by the-Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,330,926 IO/1943 Raus 229'17 2,342,564 2/1944 Vansaum 229-38 X 2,901,097 8/1959 Tamarin 22917 X 2,902,201 9/ 1959 Engblom 229-47 2,950,851 8/1960 Peimer 229,-17 3,021,992 2/1962 Phillips 229-17 3,057,532 10/1962 Cutler et a1. 229--17 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Examiner. 

1. A CONTAINER MADE OF A SINGLE PIECE OF SHEET MATERIAL AND HAVING A FIRST OPPOSITE PAIR OF SIDE WALL PANELS AND CONNECTED THEREBETWEEN A SECOND OPPOSITE PAIR OF SIDE WALL PANELS, SAID PANELS AT ONE OF THE ENDS THEREOF HAVING MEMBERS CARRIED THEREBY FOLDABLE AND SECURABLE TO CLOSE THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONTAINER, AND A SLIDABLE CLOSURE MEANS FOR THE TOP OF THE CONTAINER, SAID LAST MEANS INCLUDING AN INNER TOP WALL PANEL CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID SIDE WALL PANELS OF THE FIRST PAIR, AN OUTER TOP WALL PANEL CARRIED BY AN OPPOSITE ONE OF SAID SIDE WALL PANELS OF THE FIRST PAIR, SAID TOP WALL PANELS BEING SPACED FROM ONE OF SAID SIDE WALL PANELS OF SAID SECOND PAIR TO PROVIDE AN ACCESS OPENING, AND A SLIDE PANEL HINGEDLY CARRIED BY OTHER OF SAID SIDE WALL PANELS OF SAID SECOND PAIR, SAID OTHER OF SAID SIDE WALL PANELS OF SAID SECOND PAIR HAVING AN INTERIOR WALL PANEL SECURED TO SAID OTHER SIDE WALL PANEL AND LIMITING MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION OF SAID SLIDE PANEL, SAID SLIDE PANEL BEING SLIDABLY DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER TOP WALL PANELS AND MOVABLE FOR EXPOSING SAID ACCESS OPENING. 